Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly

If you have a hardware device that isn't working properly with your computer, you probably need an updated driver. There are three ways to update a driver:

Use Windows Update. You might need to set Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates.

Install software from the device manufacturer. For example, if your device came with a disc, that disc might contain software that installs a driver for the device.

Download and update the driver yourself. Use this method to install a driver that you download from the manufacturer's website. Do this if Windows Update can't find a driver for your device and the device didn't come with software that installs a driver. The Windows 7 Compatibility Center website
lists thousands of devices, and has direct links to driver downloads.

Note

To automatically get available driver updates for your hardware, set Windows to install recommended updates. You can set Windows to automatically install important and recommended updates or important updates only. Optional updates aren't downloaded or installed automatically. To get all available updates for your devices, periodically check Windows Update for optional updates. For more information, see Understanding Windows automatic updating.

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.

In the left pane, click Change settings.

Under Important updates, click an item in the list.

You can decide which updates to automatically download and install.

Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then click OK. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can also allow anyone using your computer to install updates by selecting the Allow all users to install updates on this computer check box.

It's best to let Windows install device drivers automatically. But if Windows can't find a driver for your device, and the device didn't come with driver software, go to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center website, which lists thousands of devices, and has direct links to driver downloads. Also, you can look for a driver on the device manufacturer's website. Driver updates are often available in the support section of such sites.

Once you find the updated driver, follow the installation instructions on the website. Most drivers are self-installing—after you download them, you usually just double-click the file to begin the installation, and then the driver installs itself on your computer.

Some devices have drivers that you need to install yourself. If you download a driver that isn't self-installing, follow these steps:

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then, under System, clicking Device Manager. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.‌

In the list of hardware categories, find the device that you want to update, and then double-click the device name.

Click the Driver tab, click Update Driver, and then follow the instructions. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Notes

Printer information is not included in Device Manager. To see if a printer is installed or to install a new printer, see Install a printer.

To find out if your hardware (or hardware you plan to buy) is compatible with this version of Windows, go to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center. This website contains a comprehensive list of devices that have been tested to work with this version of Windows.

If you have a hardware device that isn't functioning properly, or you're installing a program or game that states it requires newer drivers than you currently have installed, you should check Windows Update for updated drivers. You might also want to set Windows Update to check automatically for recommended driver updates.

You can check Windows Update anytime to see if it has found new drivers for your hardware. Then, you can install them if you choose. Here's how:

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the left pane, click Check for updates.

To see if updated drivers are available, click View available updates.
Windows Update will list any updated drivers that are available for devices installed in your computer.

If updates are available, click the driver that you want to install, and then click Install. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Even if you have Windows Update set to automatically install important updates for your computer, it still might not be set to install all the updated drivers it finds for your hardware, since not all these are classified as important. To get all the driver updates, you'll need to turn on recommended updates. Here's how to set Windows to do this:

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.

In the left pane, click Change settings.

Click Install updates automatically (recommended).

Under Recommended updates, select the check box for Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To make sure you get the latest drivers for your hardware, set Windows to automatically download recommended updates

It's best to let Windows install drivers for your hardware automatically. You should avoid manually updating a driver unless Windows is unable to find a driver for one of your devices but you were able to obtain one some other way, or if technical support personnel ask you to install drivers from a disc or from the device manufacturer's website. If you decide to manually update a driver, here's how:

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In Device Manager, locate the device you want to update, and then double-click the device name.

Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver and follow the instructions.

Note

Printer information is not included in Device Manager. You can check if a printer is installed or manually update printer drivers by opening Printers in Control Panel. For more information, see
Add or remove a printer.

To find out if your hardware (or hardware you plan to buy) is compatible with Windows Vista, go online to the Windows Vista Compatibility Center. This website contains a comprehensive list of hardware components and devices that work with Windows Vista.